Volvo Introduces C30 Polestar

Volvo's racing team helps out with a limited-edition upgrade for the C30 hatchback.

Although Volvo is generally more concerned with safety than the thrill of the drive, the Swedish marque has recently been paying more attention to performance. Much of that comes down to its collaboration with Polestar, the outfit that runs Volvo's official touring car racing team for the past few years. Polestar has also done a series of concepts and upgrades for roadgoing Volvos, and now the two have announced a new commercially-available special edition based on the quirky little C30 hatchback.

The most extreme collaboration between Volvo and Polestar netted the C30 Polestar Performance Concept, a 405-horsepower, all-wheel-drive pocket rocket with racing seats, Brembo brakes and an aggressive aero package. That is not, however, what Volvo is now offering. Limited to 250 examples in the US, is based on the front-drive C30 R-Design model, but with a few notable upgrades. That comes down to matte black 17-inch alloys, a Rebel Blue paint job, and an ECU upgrade that squeezes out an extra 23 horsepower and 37 lb-ft of torque from the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine for a total of 250 annd 273, respectively.

The C30 Polestar Limited Edition also benefits from mono-tube dampers, 30-percent stiffer springs, harder bushings and a 10 percent quicker steering ratio for faster turn-ins. Inside, the standard equipment carries over from the C30 Premium Plus, including sunroof, power seats, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and push-button start, along with LED daytime running lights and Xenon headlamps. And if you're feeling flush, the Platinum model adds navigation and a premium sound system. As always, exclusivity comes at a price; $32,445 to be exact (including an $895 destination charge).

That may be more than a VW Golf R or Mazdaspeed3, but it comes in less than a similarly decked out C30 R-Design with Polestar's engine goodies which doesn't come with the Limited Edition's fancy wheels and badges. The first two images shown are of the C3 Polestar Limited Edition, with a few shots of the aforementioned Performance Concept thrown in for good measure.